Elderly resident Tima Binti Hamso, of Rinca Island in West Manggarai regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), was bitten by a Komodo dragon on Thursday as she was preparing fodder for her livestock, located around 50 meters from her house.

When reached on Friday, Komodo National Park head Sustyo Iriyono confirmed the incident had taken place.

“Yes, the woman was bitten by the Komodo dragon on Rinca Island on Thursday,” he said.

He said doctors at the Labuan Bajo community health clinic (Puskesmas) had treated the victim on Thursday and authorities at the Komodo National Park were closely monitoring her condition.

Iriyono said doctors at the Puskesmas had already stitched the open wound on the victim’s leg, and she was given antivenom that was airlifted from Bali on Thursday.

“The antivenom had to be bought in Bali and airlifted to Labuan Bajo because the Puskesmas there is not equipped with Komodo antivenom,” Iriyono said.

He added the victim remained at the clinic to monitor her recovery.

“Doctors at the Puskesmas and officers from the Komodo National Park are currently observing the development of the patient’s condition,” he said.

Previous Komodo dragon attacks:

• June 2, 2007

A Komodo dragon mauls a 9-year-old local boy to death near a village in Komodo National Park in West Manggarai regency. Police say the giant lizard appeared suddenly and attacked Mansur while he and two friends were in a wilderness area not far from the village on Komodo island. “The Komodo seized the 9-year-old in its jaws, tossed him around and released him only once other villagers started to throw stones,” West Manggarai Police chief Butje Hello says.

• March 23, 2009

Two Komodo dragons maul a fruit-picker to death in the eastern province of East Nusa Tenggara, police and witnesses say. Police Sgt. Kosmas Jalang says 31-year-old Muhamad Anwar was attacked on Komodo, one of four islands where the giant reptile is found in the wild, minutes after falling out of a sugar-apple tree. He bleeds badly from bites to his hands, body, legs and neck after two lizards, waiting below, attack him, according to neighbor Theresia Tawa. He dies at a clinic on the neighboring island of Flores soon after.

• Feb. 22, 2010

A Komodo dragon at a national park in West Manggarai attacks a park employee, who sustains serious injuries. Witnesses say Marselinus Subanghadir, a PT Putera Naga Komodo security warden, suffered severe wounds on his right foot.

• May 22, 2010

A construction worker on Rinca Island is attacked by a Komodo dragon, but manages to save himself though he sustains bites on his right shoulder.

The victim, Agustinus Jenaru, 20, is bitten by the giant lizard as he peels onions at his elevated house.

The Komodo dragon had stealthily entered the house and suddenly jumped onto the victim, throwing him to the floor.